I just returned from the Chicago area, where I used to live. I got to spend ten days with some very good friends, and I want to share snapshots of the connective conversations I had the joy of engaging in with new acquaintances and old friends. Very grateful for the sharing of real life!
We spoke….
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About the futility of superficial relationships
About the gift of enthusiastic, genuine encouragement
About the usefulness of discontentedness in this life, that it points us to the only One who can satisfy
About the importance of communication in marriage and family relationships
About the joy of hard work
About the need for love, respect, and forgiveness in relationships
About the real-life weight of battling depression
About ministering to those who are depressed and suicidal
About the difficulties of and the need to love the unloveable
About the power of God through prayer (as opposed to “the power of prayer”)
About the roles of Scripture memory and worship in the on-the-spot fight against temptation
About the need to make your faith your own, and not taking for granted your parents’ faith
About the value of godly parenting
About the beauty of music
About the joy of singing with good friends
About the pleasure of reading good books
About the craft of writing about anything that happens to come your way in life
About the nature of the church in America, that it is being largely transformed by culture, and not so much the other way around
About the abundance of God’s provision
About the overwhelming beauty of God’s handiwork in creation
About the nature and value of discomfort in ministry
About the need to stay focused on the relational aspect of our walk with Christ as our motivation for obedience
About the necessity of avoiding being bound by the law or taking advantage of God’s grace (or, the need to find the middle area of the pendulum-swing between the two extremes)
About the danger of blindly following a human being who claims to have the corner market on truth
About the privilege of feeling like a part of the family, wherever true fellowship exists
About the life-giving nature of meaningful relationships
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Many thanks to the Lord for the opportunity to connect with some exceptionally wonderful, fun, enjoyable people over the course of the last ten days!
